From the Palo Alto Centennial book, written by Susan Jackson. When Ron Jones started teaching at Cubberley High School in the fall of 1968, it was considered the most innovative of Palo Alto's high schools. That's why the 26 year-old graduate student wanted to teach there. His methods were experimental and his goal was to bring social studies to life. And because it was the '60's, Jones was caught up in a whirlwind of student activism the likes of which Palo Alto had never seen before. But what gained Jones an international reputation was an experiment in which students, the school's principal and other members of the community flirted with aspects of Nazism for a week. Jones formulated the idea during a discussion on Nazi Germany when a student insisted, "It couldn't happen here." To find out, Jones turned his class into an efficient youth organization, which he called the Third Wave. He insisted on rigid posture and that questions be answered formally and quickly. The experiment, initially scheduled for one day, stretched into five. "It was strange how quickly the students took to a uniform code of behavior. I began to wonder just how far they could be pushed," Jones wrote later. To his surprise, Jones found that students recited facts more accurately in this authoritarian environment and that he had no discipline problems. One previously lost soul suddenly had a role in the school - he became Jones' bodyguard. But soon the experiment began spinning out of control…. Chapter One
Complete a character web for 2 of the characters introduced in this chapter (3-5 points for each character). Brian, Amy’s boy friend, gets low marks, he’s a quarter back. Laurie, David’s girlfriend, editor of the Gordon grapevine, straight A student, good worker.
See side board
2. What are two problems that Ben Ross has with his history class?
Two problems are 1) they don’t pay attention in class. 2) Do not finish homework 3) sloppy work/ assignments 4) late for class 5) Low marks vs working on their assignment Chapter Two 1. How many people were killed by Nazis in the concentration camps?
10 000 000 people were killed in the concentration camps.
2. According to Ross, why didn’t the Germans try to stop the Nazis?
They were ordered to kill if they do not comply. Small minority rules the large majority. 3. What was Laurie’s reaction to the film?
Laurie was very disturbed about the movie.
Chapter Three 1. What proof is there at the beginning of chapter three that Robert Billings is the “class loser”? He picked a table in the lunch room and as soon as he put his tray down the 2 girls got up and left. Robert sleeps in class, doesn’t try very hard, he lowers his own expectations, not well groomed, and doesn’t share answers in class.
2. Why is Laurie upset by the movie? Because the Jewish people were killed for no reason.
Chapter Four
What does it mean to be obsessive? Why does Ben Ross seem obsessive? Obsessive means you really like something and you can’t get past it.
he likes how his students are reacting.
Chapter Five 1. At the beginning of class, what is the student’s behaviour like?
Drifted in class slowly and stood around talking. Played with the blinds, put a kick me sign on someone’s back.
2. What is the class slogan? What does it mean?
Class slogan is strength through discipline.
3. What are the three class rules?
Sit up at attention. Say Mr Ross then says the answer. Come to school with supplies.
4. What does Ben think about what is happening his class?
He likes it because the students are taking on responsibility. Chapter Six 1. What does community mean? People coming together to build something or working as a team.
2. What is Ben Ross’s definition of “community”?
He thinks it’s a bond between people who work and struggle together for a common goal.
3. What do you think will happen to the football team after it adopts “The Wave”? Why do you think this happened?
I think they will start actually treating each other like a team and if they do…… The team could start winning or being a better team.
Chapter Seven 1. What are some of the positive things about “The Wave” so far?
2. Why doesn’t Laurie’s mom like “The Wave”?
Because she taught Laurie to be independent. It sounds to military realistic. Chapter Eight 1. Discuss the good things about “The Wave” according to George, Amy, and Robert (p.67). Now compare these good things the bad things that Laurie thinks about “The Wave”(p.68). Use a chart to discuss the good and the bad.
Good Points about The Wave
Bad Points about The Wave
They have to wear jeans sneakers and t shirt.
Like the Democracy of it.
All equal
They liked increased discipline.
Responsibility.
Chapter Nine 1. What does Mr Ross’s think about “The Wave” in this chapter?
He thinks that the kids are getting there work done. He thinks its brain washing them. He day dreams it’s going to be in the time magazine.
What are Mr. Ross’ positive and negative feelings about “the Wave” (first few pages of the chapter) far more successful than he expected.
Covering assignments faster. Marks improving.
Chapter Ten
What are Principal Owens concerns about “The Wave”?
How they will act. Things might get out of hand. Doesn’t want parents to think that indoctrinating there kids
Chapter Eleven 1. What are two important events that take place in this chapter?
Chapter Twelve 1. Why does David think that Laurie doesn’t like “The Wave”?
Because people are becoming non independent.
2. What does Mr. Saunders learn about `The Wave’ in the golf course?
That the students are taking the wave a bit too far.
Chapter Thirteen 1. What items are to be included in the special edition of “The Grapevine”?
Laurie added the wave.
2. What does predict mean? Predict what will happen when this edition of “The Grapevine” comes out.
What you think is going to happen.
Chapter Fourteen 1. What does Amy see as “The Wave’s” good points?
2. What rumours about “The Wave” are going around the school?
Chapter Fifteen 1. What similarities does Ross see between “The Wave” and Nazi Germany?
Chapter Sixteen - Seventeen 1. Why would the people living in Germany during the Holocaust have joined the Nazi’s? You can explain how by examining why the students joined “The Wave.
They all wanted to be equal and other people made their decisions.
2. What does Ben Ross hope his students will learn from this whole experience?
He hoped that they will now think for themselves.
3. What was your over-all impression of the book? I liked it because it kinda taught me to make your own decisions at times. Themes
1. We must learn to question and think for ourselves. What evidence is there in the book that most of the class did not think for themselves?
2. The rights of the group versus the rights of the individual. "Honey, just remember that the popular thing is not always the right thing." Explain Laurie’s father's statement in terms of what happened in the book.
3. Power corrupts. "It almost sounds like he's joined a cult or something." Ben Ross found himself enjoying aspects of The Wave. Explain why this enjoyment is 'corrupting' the teacher.
4. Don't sit smugly thinking it can never happen again - and here! What nearly happened again? Using references and quotations, compare the film Ben Ross showed his class, with the behavior of members of The Wave later on in the book.
The Wave
A Dangerous Experiment.
From the Palo Alto Centennial book, written by Susan Jackson.When Ron Jones started teaching at Cubberley High School in the fall of 1968, it was considered the most innovative of Palo Alto's high schools. That's why the 26 year-old graduate student wanted to teach there. His methods were experimental and his goal was to bring social studies to life. And because it was the '60's, Jones was caught up in a whirlwind of student activism the likes of which Palo Alto had never seen before.
But what gained Jones an international reputation was an experiment in which students, the school's principal and other members of the community flirted with aspects of Nazism for a week.
Jones formulated the idea during a discussion on Nazi Germany when a student insisted, "It couldn't happen here."
To find out, Jones turned his class into an efficient youth organization, which he called the Third Wave. He insisted on rigid posture and that questions be answered formally and quickly.
The experiment, initially scheduled for one day, stretched into five. "It was strange how quickly the students took to a uniform code of behavior. I began to wonder just how far they could be pushed," Jones wrote later.
To his surprise, Jones found that students recited facts more accurately in this authoritarian environment and that he had no discipline problems. One previously lost soul suddenly had a role in the school - he became Jones' bodyguard.
But soon the experiment began spinning out of control….
Chapter One
See side board
2. What are two problems that Ben Ross has with his history class?
Two problems are 1) they don’t pay attention in class. 2) Do not finish homework 3) sloppy work/ assignments 4) late for class 5) Low marks vs working on their assignment
Chapter Two
1. How many people were killed by Nazis in the concentration camps?
10 000 000 people were killed in the concentration camps.
2. According to Ross, why didn’t the Germans try to stop the Nazis?
They were ordered to kill if they do not comply. Small minority rules the large majority.
3. What was Laurie’s reaction to the film?
Laurie was very disturbed about the movie.
Chapter Three
1. What proof is there at the beginning of chapter three that Robert Billings is the “class loser”? He picked a table in the lunch room and as soon as he put his tray down the 2 girls got up and left.
Robert sleeps in class, doesn’t try very hard, he lowers his own expectations, not well groomed, and doesn’t share answers in class.
2. Why is Laurie upset by the movie?
Because the Jewish people were killed for no reason.
Chapter Four
he likes how his students are reacting.
Chapter Five
1. At the beginning of class, what is the student’s behaviour like?
Drifted in class slowly and stood around talking. Played with the blinds, put a kick me sign on someone’s back.
2. What is the class slogan? What does it mean?
Class slogan is strength through discipline.
3. What are the three class rules?
Sit up at attention.
Say Mr Ross then says the answer.
Come to school with supplies.
4. What does Ben think about what is happening his class?
He likes it because the students are taking on responsibility.
Chapter Six
1. What does community mean?
People coming together to build something or working as a team.
2. What is Ben Ross’s definition of “community”?
He thinks it’s a bond between people who work and struggle together for a common goal.
3. What do you think will happen to the football team after it adopts “The Wave”? Why do you think this happened?
I think they will start actually treating each other like a team and if they do…… The team could start winning or being a better team.
Chapter Seven
1. What are some of the positive things about “The Wave” so far?
2. Why doesn’t Laurie’s mom like “The Wave”?
Because she taught Laurie to be independent.
It sounds to military realistic.
Chapter Eight
1. Discuss the good things about “The Wave” according to George, Amy, and Robert (p.67). Now compare these good things the bad things that Laurie thinks about “The Wave”(p.68). Use a chart to discuss the good and the bad.
Chapter Nine
1. What does Mr Ross’s think about “The Wave” in this chapter?
He thinks that the kids are getting there work done.
He thinks its brain washing them.
He day dreams it’s going to be in the time magazine.
- What are Mr. Ross’ positive and negative feelings about “the Wave” (first few pages of the chapter) far more successful than he expected.
Covering assignments faster.Marks improving.
Chapter Ten
- What are Principal Owens concerns about “The Wave”?
How they will act.Things might get out of hand.
Doesn’t want parents to think that indoctrinating there kids
Chapter Eleven
1. What are two important events that take place in this chapter?
Chapter Twelve
1. Why does David think that Laurie doesn’t like “The Wave”?
Because people are becoming non independent.
2. What does Mr. Saunders learn about `The Wave’ in the golf course?
That the students are taking the wave a bit too far.
Chapter Thirteen
1. What items are to be included in the special edition of “The Grapevine”?
Laurie added the wave.
2. What does predict mean? Predict what will happen when this edition of “The Grapevine” comes out.
What you think is going to happen.
Chapter Fourteen
1. What does Amy see as “The Wave’s” good points?
2. What rumours about “The Wave” are going around the school?
Chapter Fifteen
1. What similarities does Ross see between “The Wave” and Nazi Germany?
Chapter Sixteen - Seventeen
1. Why would the people living in Germany during the Holocaust have joined the Nazi’s? You can explain how by examining why the students joined “The Wave.
They all wanted to be equal and other people made their decisions.
2. What does Ben Ross hope his students will learn from this whole experience?
He hoped that they will now think for themselves.
3. What was your over-all impression of the book?
I liked it because it kinda taught me to make your own decisions at times.
Themes
1. We must learn to question and think for ourselves.
What evidence is there in the book that most of the class did not think for
themselves?
2. The rights of the group versus the rights of the individual.
"Honey, just remember that the popular thing is not always the right thing."
Explain Laurie’s father's statement in terms of what happened in the book.
3. Power corrupts.
"It almost sounds like he's joined a cult or something."
Ben Ross found himself enjoying aspects of The Wave. Explain why this
enjoyment is 'corrupting' the teacher.
4. Don't sit smugly thinking it can never happen again - and here!
What nearly happened again? Using references and quotations, compare the
film Ben Ross showed his class, with the behavior of members of The Wave
later on in the book.